Terrible day of the LORD

Have recently read the email sharings of a brother and a sister in Christ and have been moved to share them with everyone, including my sharing. Some may have read this via email from me already, but i would still like to share this here.

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1st Sharing, from Yibin:

I just have a burden to do a short sharing to encourage and push one another.

When i saw the natural disaster reported of Taiwan last night, my heart was sitrred into thinking: Indeed i have been hearing such kind of news frequently over the recent years. Seems to me like natural disasters have been increasing throughout the world. Then, i thought quickly "But Singapore is safe. If you migrate here, then you are free from 'natural problems'." Seemed that i was wrong too - Swine flu has been pressing hard just on Singapore alone, with new strain found recently (H2N3); some have died on the flu itself. Its not true that one can be safe from 'natural disasters' in Singapore. I cannot avoid, but to realise that the great and terrible day of the LORD is coming.

"But since we are of the day, let us be sober... For God has not destined us for wrath..." 1 Thess 5:8a, 9a

"Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and hear it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name." Mal 4:16

I was almost guilty immediately for having forgotten "the great and terrible day of the LORD" (Mal 4:5). It caught me red-handed. I tell myself "Its another week of Tuanqi this saturday". I tell myself "I have time to repent of my sin, God is patient." Sometimes, i walk past the poor and needy, hardening my heart against them. Alas, i often take the Lord's patience as a licence to be 'drunk' in my own sins and to be careless about my ministries and my life.

I must honestly admit the reality of my short service time here on earth doesn't seem too real: Watchman nee says the time to glorify God is here on earth, for when we reach heaven, there is nothing more we need to do like on earth - no sin-fighting, no gospel-sharing, just being w/ the LORD and worshipping Him... there is nothing more we can do in fact. I guess the reality of the 5 unprepared virgins being shut outside the door is not that real to me as well. I take grace too much for granted, thinking i will always have time.

Its really hard for me to imagine, especially i feel i am so young. I feel i have so many long-term goals to meet out: finish 2 years of my abroad studies, then plan for work, family, and my future... but... what if tomorrow doesn't come? What if God says "Time's up, Yibin" to me? Then by then, before the LORD, am i clear in my conscience to say "I have been ready, preparing for you to come?" I just hope this serves as a reminder to us, never to think in our spiritual life "I have time to change, so let me continue in sin, in my drunkeness".

Yibin

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2nd Sharing, from Xinyu:

Dear brothers and sisters-in-Christ,

After reading Yibin’s email, I had this strong urge to share with you all some things that have been weighing on my heart and mind recently.

I will start by sharing my 2 recent encounters. Four days ago, on my journey home after BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), I saw this huge bright moon that feels very near to me too. I could even see the shadows on the moon VERY clearly. I REALLY gasped at the sight of it and the friend beside me asked why I seem so shocked (in a bad way), because she thought it was cute. I was at a loss for words and could only utter, “For a moment, I thought that’s the end.” After that, I asked myself “Why am I so scared? Am I right with GOD? How honest am I before Him? 50%, 70% or haven’t talked/prayed to Him much for the past few days?”

My second encounter. I fell very ill 2 weeks ago. For days, I thought my unwell was not big enough for any cause for concern. But I never expected myself to wake up one morning in extreme pain, unable to move. It was excruciating and the worst pain was, I didn’t really know what was happening. While lying on bed for an hour before getting up, my mind kept fluctuating between a blank and turmoil state. The doctor took a test that day and while waiting for the results to be out after 48hrs or for my condition to improve, I could hardly do anything due to my pain and weakness. I felt as if life came to a halt but I must say, the most tormenting part was not knowing what was happening.

Thank God I am feeling much better now, but it really taught me many important and invaluable lessons. Everything felt surreal and scary then. Like Yibin said, it is hard to believe something may happen and there may not be the next 3 years of uni and then working. There are still so many things I want to do. I feel driven, but by what and for what? By pride for earthly transient things or by God’s love for His Kingdom and His glory?

2 days ago, I just attended a talk by Mark Dever, a senior pastor in Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C, and I was hardly able to breath during and after the talk. His questions gripped my heart and so imprinted on my mind. “Is your happiness within your enemies’ reach?” “Are you enslaved by your pleasures? Be careful because pleasures can choke you.” “If you don’t spend time reading the Bible, how are you spending your life? Building idols?” “Can you be happy under any circumstances?” He also confronted the issue of wealth and giving of our time and resources. “It is not how much you give but how much you keep.” “Christian’s life is about leaning on God so much so that our lives don’t make sense.”

I know I have SO MUCH things I need to do. My lifestyle needs radical change. I need to stop giving myself excuses. Don’t assume there is time. I am speaking this for myself for right at this moment, I am fighting with my own pride and desire for human approval. Just this morning, I felt so down and apologetic to God because I backed out the moment my friend said “You won’t go to hell just because you miss a service.” (They wanted to do a project on Sun and the timing don’t allow me to attend the morning nor the evening service.) After that incident, I don’t even dare to mention the fact we are infringing copyrights by photocopying an assessment form.:(

Do I have the courage to tell them who GOD is even though it may sound silly and even simply hilarious to them? Okie, that concerns group work. How about my individual presentation? I did not get the topics I wanted and ended up with a discussion qn about sexual health. Do I dare to use this opportunity to let them know who GOD is? And to conclude with something that is the direct truth from the Bible? May God help me and us to learn to lean on Him so much that our lives don’t make sense.

In Him,
Xinyu

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3rd Sharing, from me(written on 14.08.2009):

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Yes indeed these are all big reminders in the face to remind us. In a way thank God. And indeed we must really keep on the watch out, because we are so "dumb-wood" and thick at times, and now that God has used such big things in our face, let us recognised the signs and really be on the alert in how we live our lives. [Luke路 12:54-56]

Would like to call for dear brothers and sisters to pray for the Typhoon Morakot situation in Taiwan. i admit i've been very lagging with world news, have just heard about the Taiwan disaster from a taiwanese friend here(in Germany), who called me just now and was talking about it. She wants to write letters of request for help to international aid organisations because the Taiwan government is not doing enough and is too slow, and has asked me to help her write it in English. Will be helping her to translate it tomorrow. Its really a big thing, and now that i've gotten to know more taiwanese friends here, it really strikes much closer than before. There are lots of people there who are still unable to reach aid, over a hundred dead in the southern half of taiwan, and more still missing. especially in the mountainous areas. This may simply sound like a news report, but let us be reminded that these are real severe disasters happening to real people, real souls who need God.

It is really a reminder to me of how much we need to pray for the salvation of others and for opportunities and love, courage and wisdom to share the gospel to people. i've been working at a Chinese Restaurant here since about a month ago, a couple of days each week. And especially since i've been working at the bar since last week, that means lots of washing, drying/polishing drink glasses etc, its been more physical than mental work and i've been able to hum hymns etc all day long, spending time with God in this way and had the opportunity to share about the gospel and christianity with 2 colleagues and have given a Bible to one of them(sponsored by the Chinese Church here). Particularly these 2 days at work, have been reminded how much i could have spent that same time using my heart and mind to pray for the salvation of my colleagues and other people while my hands are busy. i'm trying to do that. Do let's all work together in this ministry of reconciliation [2 Cor 林后 5:18-20] which God has given us. It will not be easy but God's grace is sufficient for us, let us seek Him indeed for all of our needs because He alone is the source of all life.

with love in Christ,
chun'en ruth

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Although my friend did not write the aid request letter in the end because she had seen later news updates about foreign help coming in, we should still continue with our battle against the evil spiritual forces and uphold one another in prayer. And i've also heard comforting news from a brother here that a large number of the aboriginal taiwanese living in the rural and mountainous areas who were affected are already family in Christ. They were first evangelised by western missionaries many years ago. Do let's continue praying for the salvation of those still living, that death may no longer have its grip on us, but is actually a door through which we must go to leave this world and go to be with our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ and Father God in Heaven.

Winnie the Pooh: Friend, in deed

"FRIEND, IN DEED" - The best video clips are right here

just saw this on a friend's blog, brings back childhood memories of growing up watching winnie the pooh in the hundred acre woods cartoons. =) indeed pooh always makes people smile. but more importantly, is thank God for letting me see the lesson from pooh in this video, despite his innocense or naiveness, whichever you'd choose to call it, the heart of a friend. and sometimes we are really just like rabbit. thank God for the reminder, to remember to see the heart of pooh in every one of the friends around us. =)

Nick Vujicic's testimony

My name is Nick Vujicic and I give God the Glory for how He has used my testimony to touch thousands of hearts around the world! I was born without limbs and doctors have no medical explanation for this birth 'defect'. As you can imagine, I was faced with many challenges and obstacles.

'Consider it pure joy, my Brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.' ....To count our hurt, pain and struggle as nothing but pure joy? As my parents were Christians, and my Dad even a Pastor of our church, they knew that verse very well. However, on the morning of the 4th of December 1982 in Melbourne (Australia), the last two words on the minds of my parents was 'Praise God!'. Their firstborn son had been born without limbs! There were no warnings or time to prepare themselves for it. The doctors we shocked and had no answers at all! There is still no medical reason why this had happened and Nick now has a Brother and Sister who were born just like any other baby.
The whole church mourned over my birth and my parents were absolutely devastated. Everyone asked, 'if God is a God of Love, then why would God let something this bad happen to not just anyone, but dedicated Christians?' My Dad thought I wouldn't survive for very long, but tests proved that I was a healthy baby boy just with a few limbs missing.

Understandably, my parents had strong concern and evident fears of what kind of life I'd be able to lead. God provided them strength, wisdom and courage through those early years and soon after that I was old enough to go to school.

The law in Australia didn't allow me to be integrated into a main-stream school because of my physical disability. God did miracles and gave my Mom the strength to fight for the law to be changed. I was one of the first disabled students to be integrated into a main-stream school.

I liked going to school, and just try to live life like everyone else, but it was in my early years of school where I encountered uncomfortable times of feeling rejected, weird and bullied because of my physical difference. It was very hard for me to get used to, but with the support of my parents, I started to develop attitudes and values which helped me overcome these challenging times. I knew that I was different but on the inside I was just like everyone else. There were many times when I felt so low that I wouldn't go to school just so I didn't have to face all the negative attention. I was encouraged by my parents to ignore them and to try start making friends by just talking with some kids. Soon the students realized that I was just like them, and starting there God kept on blessing me with new friends.

There were times when I felt depressed and angry because I couldn't change the way I was, or blame anyone for that matter. I went to Sunday School and learnt that God loves us all and that He cares for you. I understood that love to a point as a child, but I didn't understand that if God loved me why did He make me like this? Is it because I did something wrong? I thought I must have because out of all the kids at school, I'm the only weird one. I felt like I was a burden to those around me and the sooner I go, the better it'd be for everyone. I wanted to end my pain and end my life at a young age, but I am thankful once again, for my parents and family who were always there to comfort me and give me strength.

Due to my emotional struggles I had experienced with bullying, self esteem and loneliness, God has implanted a passion of sharing my story and experiences to help others cope with whatever challenge they have in their life and let God turn it into a blessing. To encourage and inspire others to live to their fullest potential and not let anything get in the way of accomplishing their hopes and dreams.

One of the first lessons that I have learnt was not to take things for granted.

'And we know that in all things God works for the best for those who love Him.' That verse spoke to my heart and convicted me to the point where that I know that there is no such thing as luck, chance or coincidence that these 'bad' things happen in our life.
I had complete peace knowing that God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless He has a good purpose for it all. I completely gave my life to Christ at the age of fifteen after reading John 9. Jesus said that the reason the man was born blind was 'so that the works of God may be revealed through Him.' I truly believed that God would heal me so I could be a great testimony of His Awesome Power. Later on I was given the wisdom to understand that if we pray for something, if it's God's will, it'll happen in His time. If it's not God's will for it to happen, then I know that He has something better.
I now see that Glory revealed as He is using me just the way I am and in ways others can't be used.
I am now twenty-three years old and have completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting. I am also a motivational speaker and love to go out and share my story and testimony wherever opportunities become available. I have developed talks to relate to and encourage students through topics that challenge today's teenagers. I am also a speaker in the corporate sector.

I have a passion for reaching out to youth and keep myself available for whatever God wants me to do, and wherever He leads, I follow.

I have many dreams and goals that I have set to achieve in my life. I want to become the best witness I can be of God's Love and Hope, to become an international inspirational speaker and be used as a vessel in both Christian and non-Christian venues. I want to become financially independent by the age of 25, through real estate investments, to modify a car for me to drive and to be interviewed and share my story on the 'Oprah Winfrey Show'! Writing several best-selling books has been one of my dreams and I hope to finish writing my first by the end of the year. It will be called 'No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!'

I believe that if you have the desire and passion to do something, and if it's God's will, you will achieve it in good time. As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason at all! What's worse is putting limits on God who can do all things. We put God in a 'box'. The awesome thing about the Power of God, is that if we want to do something for God, instead of focusing on our capability, concentrate on our availability for we know that it is God through us and we can't do anything without Him. Once we make ourselves available for God's work, guess whose capabilities we rely on? God's!


May the Lord Bless you
In Christ,
Nick Vujicic


a link to a video clip of Nick. do see!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7668133414808372958
(the page may appear saying that "this page cannot be found", just wait a moment then it should start loading. if not, simply refresh or re-click the link to open it again =) )

World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches 4th Youth Leaders Conference - experience sharing(for pan2 shi2)

感谢主让我有机会参加六月的世界循道卫理宗华人教会联合第四届青年领袖大会。从作出要去的决定和一切筹备工作到平安地从香港回来都看到上帝一路的带领，从中不单学习了不少，还认识了好些爱主的弟兄姐妹。

当初报名参加时以为是个领袖训练营。不久后便收到消息说有总召集，就从这第一次的总召集才发现到营会原来是给已经是青年领袖的人去参加！而我在团契里却从来都没真正的当过什么领袖。除此以外，还发现到我们是代表全新加坡，这么大的重任，而且还有很多筹备工作。回想着这一切筹备工作，上帝真是给了我好多的事奉机会，差不多每一项都有付出。最难忘的就是各地事工分享，当晚各地区的代表都是一位牧师或传道人，惟有我一个最小的，经验和年纪最轻的。还记得我们新加坡是最后一个地区分享，在等的当儿就在外面赶紧与一位姐妹练台词。真是感谢主给我勇气和镇定来说，还有那段等的时间来预备和练台词，因为之前都忙着其他的筹备，还没时间坐下来好好的预备。也感谢主让我从一切中更加学习怎么在与他人合作时和睦，互相帮助。

其中最有记念性的节目就是第一晚的野外独处。我们接到的通知是会在一个公园里举行，大概需要远足30到45分钟去营地。谁知，想象中的小公园原来是香港的马鞍山郊野公园，而且还真的是得爬上山哦！但感谢主一路与我同在，赐我力量渡过一切，还赐我一个非常有爱心的小组！当晚是我们在暗中集聚时第一次遇到个个组员，而只有我一个是新加坡人。除了几位之前认识了的香港弟兄姐妹，我和其他的组员都是第一次见面，但这却没有拦住我们彼此相爱。每个人都很愿意彼此认识，互相帮助，尤其是在远足的时候，都一直彼此看顾勉励。对我这个好动的人来说，有机会在大自然里远足是我非常向往的，所以虽然途中和安营后是有好些辛苦和不舒，但都觉得还好，而且真的是许多的感谢主！因又暗又长又下阵雨又滑，每一步都真是靠着信心走的。安营后自己一个，以前会害怕，但真的，在主爱里无惧怕，而且想着整山都是上帝的民！太美，太幸福了！＝〕

在这几天的各各节目中，每天最向往的就是小组分享时间吧。＝D 哈哈，这是我小组在最后一晚分享营会得着时都同意的。最难忘的就是那晚，接着一位弟兄的提议，我们每个人分享后，大家都一同为那个人安手开声祷告，然后一位受感动的弟兄或姐妹就为他祷告。这还是我第一次有这样的经验。＝〕很感谢主给我这个，英文说“work hard and play hard”的小组，分享时认真，有难题时愿意建议帮助，轮到玩时也都劲情地享受。也非常感谢主给我小组里有一位香港弟兄能和非常愿意地为我们，就是我和一位台湾姐妹，从第一晚到最后星期天的崇拜都一直做翻译。从这位弟兄和其他组员，三位香港姐妹和一位香港和一位东马弟兄的行动、分享上、他们的热心招待等，真的看到了上帝的爱。甚至营会后那位做翻译的弟兄为我们的小组取了名，叫Agape小组！＝D

这营会中的专题、研经等，也教导了我很多。整体上，这整个营会给了我很大的激发要更加为主而活，殷勤地学习圣经，随走随传永不退缩。希望能参加下一届的领袖大会，也非常鼓励其他的弟兄姐妹去参加！＝〕

discoveries of biblical sites n stuff

http://users.netconnect.com.au/~leedas/index.html
discoveries by God inspired Ronald Wyatt.
-Noah's Ark
-Exodus of Israelites
-Sodom & Gomorrah
-Mount Sinai
-Ark of the Covenant

(email from joyce)

REMINDER:
-READ THE BIBLE!! IT IS THE TRUTH! consists of ONLY TRUTH! and is ALL TRUTH!
absolutely NOTHING FALSE about it!
-from Sodom&Gomorrah: now u see how horrendous and scary His judgement and punishment, was, is, and always will be! please stay away from sin!!
His criteria: not ONE sin.
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came from Christ Jesus."
-- Romans 3:23-24
By His grace, He gave us a way out, only by faith are we saved. must be reborn again!

for all girls n women!

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. -- Proverbs 31:30
艳丽是虚假的，美容是虚浮的；惟敬畏耶和华的妇女必得称赞。
-- 箴言 31 章 30节

read whole of 箴言Proverbs 31:10-31
论贤妻 Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

=)
Thank You Father for this reminder! =)

=)

When I just saw the title of my last blog, I just had to say this.
Indeed, He will provide, and He has. =)
Thank God for helping me through one very tough week, 3 big assignments down.
1 Harmony II project presentation on Tues
2 Composition I term2 assignment on Wed
3 History II individual (horn) presentation on Thurs

Thank God so much for everything. esp for the History presentation, finished just on the dot before 4pm when History lecture (presentations) was going to start, and Dr Kan helped to zap my handouts too, met her in the lift just as I was rushing out to get the handouts zapped. Saved me a trip and cost for zapping. Thank God! =) and the printer worked! just when it wasn't earlier in the morning, and again later in the evening.
Was late for the Bible study class on Tues, but thank God that when I reached 20mins late(from completing compo), Cecilia was still revising last week's lesson, so didn't miss this week's. =) and thank God for everything that He is teaching me each day.

Thank God for the whole week, having the chance to talk to friends, esp Christian friends, including Weifu, and spending time at Family Worship =) Just thank God so much. For the trials, and helping me through the trials, my Guide always. =)

I've signed up for the Might Man 2 camp at last. Looking forward to an enriching and enlightening experience, but will be careful and on guard, as warned by my Christian friend.

Must stick to the timetable I've just come up with for this week and next week. God please help me!

Wrote in my journal that I'm just gonna do quiet time then sleep. Now I've extended to writing this, so must end here now. All that He gives me, isn't just about writing a blog entry, its all written in His plans. Yes. and Praise Him, Father, everyday, everywhere, all the time, not just here. =)

And thank God for helping me find the online Daily Bread again =)

goodnight.

To those reading this:
take care and may God bless you always =)